Gerunds, Participles, and
Infinitives
A verbal is a word that is formed from a verb
and acts as a noun, an adjective, or an
adverb.
There are three kinds of verbals:
Gerunds
Participles
Infinitives
•act as nouns
• Verb end in –ing
Example:
• Painting is my hobby. (subject)
• begin with a gerund
• act as nouns (S, DO, PN, OP)
Examples:
• Writing a novel is hard work!
• George thinks sleeping through class is
normal.
Using Gerund Phrases
Subject
Calling the monster
Frankenstein is a mistake.
Predicate Noun
Frankenstein’s error was
creating the monster.
Direct Object
I like watching horror movies.
Object of a
Preposition
The monster was responsible
for killing three people.
• Find the gerund or gerund phrases in the following
sentences and label them as S, DO, PN, or OP
1. After listening to ghost stories, the three
girls were scared.
2. Falling asleep was difficult too.
3. Imagine sleeping without dreams.
4. The best idea she had was ignoring all
spooky noises.
1. After listening to ghost stories, the three
girls were scared. (OP)
2. Falling asleep was difficult too. (S)
3. Imagine sleeping without dreams. (DO)
4. The best idea she had was ignoring all
spooky noises. (PN)
Practice with your Group
Write one sentence that
contains a gerund or gerund
phrase.
• form of a verb that acts as an
adjective
• can end in –ing, -ed, or irregularly
Examples:
• The wheel has a broken spoke.
• The deck has fifty-two playing cards.
• begin with a participle
• modify nouns or pronouns
Examples:
•
The teacher, having retired, could now travel.
• The man running slowly still finished the race.
• Find the participle or participial phrases in the
following sentences and the words they modify
1. The frightened child was crying loudly.
2. That squeaking door needs to be oiled.
3. Blistered and burnt, the girl was in pain.
4. Taking my time, I was able to hit the
basket with my first shot.
1. The frightened child was crying loudly.
2. That squeaking door needs to be oiled.
3. Blistered and burnt, the girl was in pain.
4. Taking my time, I was able to hit the
basket with my first shot.
• to plus a verb (to eat, to dance)
• act as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns
Examples:
• Martians might use flying saucers
to invade Earth. (adv)
• He wants to start right away. (n)
• begin with an infinitive
• act as adjectives, nouns, or adverbs
Examples:
• My dream is to live on Mars. (n)
• Some scientists believed Mars to be
inhabited. (adj)
Find the infinitive or infinitive phrases in the
following sentences and label them as nouns,
adverbs, or adjectives.
1. Science fiction authors write to
scare their readers.
2. He asked to not be disturbed.
3. Joe is the man to see about the job.
4. This must be the best route to take.
1. Science fiction authors write to scare
their readers. Adv
2. He asked to not be disturbed.
Noun - DO
3. Joe is the man to see about the job. Adj
4. This must be the best route to take. Adj